SummaryThe scientific goal of the proposal is to answer central questions related to diffeomorphism groups of manifolds of dimension 2 and 3, and to their deformation invariant analogs, the mapping class groups. While the classification of surfaces has been known for more than a century, their automorphism groups have yet to be fully understood. Even less is known about diffeomorphisms of 3-manifolds despite much interest, and the objects here have only been classified recently, by the breakthrough work of Perelman on the Poincar\&apos;e and geometrization conjectures. In dimension 2, I will focus on the relationship between mapping class groups and topological conformal field theories, with applications to Hochschild homology. In dimension 3, I propose to compute the stable homology of classifying spaces of diffeomorphism groups and mapping class groups, as well as study the homotopy type of the space of diffeomorphisms. I propose moreover to establish homological stability theorems in the wider context of automorphism groups and more general families of groups. The project combines breakthrough methods from homotopy theory with methods from differential and geometric topology. The research team will consist of 3 PhD students, and 4 postdocs, which I will lead.

The scientific goal of the proposal is to answer central questions related to diffeomorphism groups of manifolds of dimension 2 and 3, and to their deformation invariant analogs, the mapping class groups. While the classification of surfaces has been known for more than a century, their automorphism groups have yet to be fully understood. Even less is known about diffeomorphisms of 3-manifolds despite much interest, and the objects here have only been classified recently, by the breakthrough work of Perelman on the Poincar\&apos;e and geometrization conjectures. In dimension 2, I will focus on the relationship between mapping class groups and topological conformal field theories, with applications to Hochschild homology. In dimension 3, I propose to compute the stable homology of classifying spaces of diffeomorphism groups and mapping class groups, as well as study the homotopy type of the space of diffeomorphisms. I propose moreover to establish homological stability theorems in the wider context of automorphism groups and more general families of groups. The project combines breakthrough methods from homotopy theory with methods from differential and geometric topology. The research team will consist of 3 PhD students, and 4 postdocs, which I will lead.

Max ERC Funding

724 992 €

Duration

Start date: 2009-11-01, End date: 2014-10-31

Project acronymALLQUANTUM

ProjectAll-solid-state quantum electrodynamics in photonic crystals

Researcher (PI)Peter Lodahl

Host Institution (HI)KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET

Call DetailsStarting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2010-StG_20091028

SummaryIn quantum electrodynamics a range of fundamental processes are driven by omnipresent vacuum fluctuations. Photonic crystals can control vacuum fluctuations and thereby the fundamental interaction between light and matter. We will conduct experiments on quantum dots in photonic crystals and observe novel quantum electrodynamics effects including fractional decay and the modified Lamb shift. Furthermore, photonic crystals will be explored for shielding sensitive quantum-superposition states against decoherence.
Defects in photonic crystals allow novel functionalities enabling nanocavities and waveguides. We will use the tight confinement of light in a nanocavity to entangle a quantum dot and a photon, and explore the scalability. Controlled ways of generating scalable and robust quantum entanglement is the essential missing link limiting quantum communication and quantum computing. A single quantum dot coupled to a slowly propagating mode in a photonic crystal waveguide will be used to induce large nonlinearities at the few-photon level.
Finally we will explore a novel route to enhanced light-matter interaction employing controlled disorder in photonic crystals. In disordered media multiple scattering of light takes place and can lead to the formation of Anderson-localized modes. We will explore cavity quantum electrodynamics in Anderson-localized random cavities considering disorder a resource and not a nuisance, which is the traditional view.
The main focus of the project will be on optical experiments, but fabrication of photonic crystals and detailed theory will be carried out as well. Several of the proposed experiments will constitute milestones in quantum optics and may pave the way for all-solid-state quantum communication with quantum dots in photonic crystals.

In quantum electrodynamics a range of fundamental processes are driven by omnipresent vacuum fluctuations. Photonic crystals can control vacuum fluctuations and thereby the fundamental interaction between light and matter. We will conduct experiments on quantum dots in photonic crystals and observe novel quantum electrodynamics effects including fractional decay and the modified Lamb shift. Furthermore, photonic crystals will be explored for shielding sensitive quantum-superposition states against decoherence.
Defects in photonic crystals allow novel functionalities enabling nanocavities and waveguides. We will use the tight confinement of light in a nanocavity to entangle a quantum dot and a photon, and explore the scalability. Controlled ways of generating scalable and robust quantum entanglement is the essential missing link limiting quantum communication and quantum computing. A single quantum dot coupled to a slowly propagating mode in a photonic crystal waveguide will be used to induce large nonlinearities at the few-photon level.
Finally we will explore a novel route to enhanced light-matter interaction employing controlled disorder in photonic crystals. In disordered media multiple scattering of light takes place and can lead to the formation of Anderson-localized modes. We will explore cavity quantum electrodynamics in Anderson-localized random cavities considering disorder a resource and not a nuisance, which is the traditional view.
The main focus of the project will be on optical experiments, but fabrication of photonic crystals and detailed theory will be carried out as well. Several of the proposed experiments will constitute milestones in quantum optics and may pave the way for all-solid-state quantum communication with quantum dots in photonic crystals.

Max ERC Funding

1 199 648 €

Duration

Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2015-11-30

Project acronymAMPLITUDES

ProjectManifesting the Simplicity of Scattering Amplitudes

Researcher (PI)Jacob BOURJAILY

Host Institution (HI)KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET

Call DetailsStarting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2017-STG

SummaryI propose a program of research that may forever change the way that we understand and use quantum field theory to make predictions for experiment. This will be achieved through the advancement of new, constructive frameworks to determine and represent scattering amplitudes in perturbation theory in terms that depend only on observable quantities, make manifest (all) the symmetries of the theory, and which can be efficiently evaluated while minimally spoiling the underlying simplicity of predictions. My research has already led to the discovery and development of several approaches of this kind.
This proposal describes the specific steps required to extend these ideas to more general theories and to higher orders of perturbation theory. Specifically, the plan of research I propose consists of three concrete goals: to fully characterize the discontinuities of loop amplitudes (`on-shell functions') for a broad class of theories; to develop powerful new representations of loop amplitude {\it integrands}, making manifest as much simplicity as possible; and to develop new techniques for loop amplitude {integration} that are compatible with and preserve the symmetries of observable quantities.
Progress toward any one of these objectives would have important theoretical implications and valuable practical applications. In combination, this proposal has the potential to significantly advance the state of the art for both our theoretical understanding and our computational reach for making predictions for experiment.
To achieve these goals, I will pursue a data-driven, `phenomenological' approach—involving the construction of new computational tools, developed in pursuit of concrete computational targets. For this work, my suitability and expertise is amply demonstrated by my research. I have not only played a key role in many of the most important theoretical developments in the past decade, but I have personally built the most powerful computational tools for their

I propose a program of research that may forever change the way that we understand and use quantum field theory to make predictions for experiment. This will be achieved through the advancement of new, constructive frameworks to determine and represent scattering amplitudes in perturbation theory in terms that depend only on observable quantities, make manifest (all) the symmetries of the theory, and which can be efficiently evaluated while minimally spoiling the underlying simplicity of predictions. My research has already led to the discovery and development of several approaches of this kind.
This proposal describes the specific steps required to extend these ideas to more general theories and to higher orders of perturbation theory. Specifically, the plan of research I propose consists of three concrete goals: to fully characterize the discontinuities of loop amplitudes (`on-shell functions') for a broad class of theories; to develop powerful new representations of loop amplitude {\it integrands}, making manifest as much simplicity as possible; and to develop new techniques for loop amplitude {integration} that are compatible with and preserve the symmetries of observable quantities.
Progress toward any one of these objectives would have important theoretical implications and valuable practical applications. In combination, this proposal has the potential to significantly advance the state of the art for both our theoretical understanding and our computational reach for making predictions for experiment.
To achieve these goals, I will pursue a data-driven, `phenomenological' approach—involving the construction of new computational tools, developed in pursuit of concrete computational targets. For this work, my suitability and expertise is amply demonstrated by my research. I have not only played a key role in many of the most important theoretical developments in the past decade, but I have personally built the most powerful computational tools for their

SummaryThis project in mathematical physics is concerned with the mathematical understanding of superconductivity and Bose-Einstein condensation. These physical phenomena are the subject of intense research activity both in the experimental and theoretical physics communities and in mathematics. However, despite a lot of effort, many key questions lack a mathematically rigorous answer. The ambition of the present project is to improve this situation. I plan to analyze both the effective models and the underlying microscopic description of superconductivity and Bose-Einstein condensation. The effective models are (systems of) non-linear partial differential equations, and I will apply recently developed mathematical techniques for their analysis. To mention an important specific problem in this part of the project, I am interested in the appearance of regular (Abrikosov) lattices of vortices. For superconductivity, which I will treat in the Ginzburg-Landau model, it is an experimental fact that this happens when an exterior magnetic field comes close to a critical value. For rotating Bose-Einstein condensates, in the Gross-Pitaevskii model, a similar phenomenon occurs for sufficiently large rotations. However, as yet we are unable to derive these lattices directly from the relevant equations. Even more fundamental are the questions about the microscopic models. The aim here is to prove that the desired condensation actually occurs under conditions relevant to experiment, i.e. to prove that the condensation phenomena are correctly described by our fundamental equations of Nature. The microscopic models are systems with a large number of variables and developing the mathematical techniques necessary for the analysis of such systems is an important question in current research in Mathematics.

This project in mathematical physics is concerned with the mathematical understanding of superconductivity and Bose-Einstein condensation. These physical phenomena are the subject of intense research activity both in the experimental and theoretical physics communities and in mathematics. However, despite a lot of effort, many key questions lack a mathematically rigorous answer. The ambition of the present project is to improve this situation. I plan to analyze both the effective models and the underlying microscopic description of superconductivity and Bose-Einstein condensation. The effective models are (systems of) non-linear partial differential equations, and I will apply recently developed mathematical techniques for their analysis. To mention an important specific problem in this part of the project, I am interested in the appearance of regular (Abrikosov) lattices of vortices. For superconductivity, which I will treat in the Ginzburg-Landau model, it is an experimental fact that this happens when an exterior magnetic field comes close to a critical value. For rotating Bose-Einstein condensates, in the Gross-Pitaevskii model, a similar phenomenon occurs for sufficiently large rotations. However, as yet we are unable to derive these lattices directly from the relevant equations. Even more fundamental are the questions about the microscopic models. The aim here is to prove that the desired condensation actually occurs under conditions relevant to experiment, i.e. to prove that the condensation phenomena are correctly described by our fundamental equations of Nature. The microscopic models are systems with a large number of variables and developing the mathematical techniques necessary for the analysis of such systems is an important question in current research in Mathematics.

SummaryIn this project I will develop and exploit experimental methods, based on short and intense laser pulses, to control the spatial orientation of molecules dissolved in liquid helium nanodroplets. This idea is, so far, completely unexplored but it has the potential to open a multitude of new opportunities in physics and chemistry. The main objectives are:
1) Complete control and real time monitoring of molecular rotation inside liquid helium droplets, exploring superfluidity of the droplets, the possible formation of quantum vortices, and rotational dephasing due to interaction of the dissolved molecules with the He solvent.
2) Ultrafast imaging of molecules undergoing chemical reaction dynamics inside liquid helium droplets, exploring rapid energy dissipation from reacting molecules to the helium solvent, transition between mirror forms of chiral molecules, strong laser field processes in He-solvated molecules, and structure determination of non crystalizable proteins by electron or x-ray diffraction.
I will achieve the objectives by combining liquid helium droplet technology, ultrafast laser pulse methods and advanced electron and ion imaging detection. The experiments will both rely on existing apparatus in my laboratories and on new vacuum and laser equipment to be set up during the project.
The ability to control how molecules are turned in space is of fundamental importance because interactions of molecules with other molecules, atoms or radiation depend on their spatial orientation. For isolated molecules in the gas phase laser based methods, developed over the past 12 years, now enable very refined and precise control over the spatial orientation of molecules. By contrast, orientational control of molecules in solution has not been demonstrated despite the potential of being able to do so is enormous, notably because most chemistry occurs in a solvent rather than in a gas of isolated molecules.

In this project I will develop and exploit experimental methods, based on short and intense laser pulses, to control the spatial orientation of molecules dissolved in liquid helium nanodroplets. This idea is, so far, completely unexplored but it has the potential to open a multitude of new opportunities in physics and chemistry. The main objectives are:
1) Complete control and real time monitoring of molecular rotation inside liquid helium droplets, exploring superfluidity of the droplets, the possible formation of quantum vortices, and rotational dephasing due to interaction of the dissolved molecules with the He solvent.
2) Ultrafast imaging of molecules undergoing chemical reaction dynamics inside liquid helium droplets, exploring rapid energy dissipation from reacting molecules to the helium solvent, transition between mirror forms of chiral molecules, strong laser field processes in He-solvated molecules, and structure determination of non crystalizable proteins by electron or x-ray diffraction.
I will achieve the objectives by combining liquid helium droplet technology, ultrafast laser pulse methods and advanced electron and ion imaging detection. The experiments will both rely on existing apparatus in my laboratories and on new vacuum and laser equipment to be set up during the project.
The ability to control how molecules are turned in space is of fundamental importance because interactions of molecules with other molecules, atoms or radiation depend on their spatial orientation. For isolated molecules in the gas phase laser based methods, developed over the past 12 years, now enable very refined and precise control over the spatial orientation of molecules. By contrast, orientational control of molecules in solution has not been demonstrated despite the potential of being able to do so is enormous, notably because most chemistry occurs in a solvent rather than in a gas of isolated molecules.

Max ERC Funding

2 409 773 €

Duration

Start date: 2013-05-01, End date: 2018-04-30

Project acronymEQU

ProjectExploring the Quantum Universe

Researcher (PI)Jan Ambjørn

Host Institution (HI)KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET

Call DetailsAdvanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209

Summary"One of the main unsolved problems in theoretical physics today is to reconcile the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics. The starting point of this proposal is a new background-independent theory of quantum gravity, which has been constructed from first principles as a sum over space-time histories and has already passed its first non-trivial tests. The theory can be investigated analytically as well as by Monte Carlo simulations. The aim is to verify that it is a viable theory of quantum gravity. Thus we want to show that it has the correct long-distance behaviour (classical Einstein gravity) and to investigate its short-distance behaviour in detail. We expect new physics to show up at the shortest distances, physics which might help us understand the origin of our universe and why the universe looks the way we observe today."

"One of the main unsolved problems in theoretical physics today is to reconcile the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics. The starting point of this proposal is a new background-independent theory of quantum gravity, which has been constructed from first principles as a sum over space-time histories and has already passed its first non-trivial tests. The theory can be investigated analytically as well as by Monte Carlo simulations. The aim is to verify that it is a viable theory of quantum gravity. Thus we want to show that it has the correct long-distance behaviour (classical Einstein gravity) and to investigate its short-distance behaviour in detail. We expect new physics to show up at the shortest distances, physics which might help us understand the origin of our universe and why the universe looks the way we observe today."

Max ERC Funding

2 187 286 €

Duration

Start date: 2012-07-01, End date: 2017-06-30

Project acronymGRACOL

ProjectGraph Theory: Colourings, flows, and decompositions

Researcher (PI)Carsten Thomassen

Host Institution (HI)DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET

Call DetailsAdvanced Grant (AdG), PE1, ERC-2012-ADG_20120216

SummaryGraph theory is a relatively new branch of mathematics. Early sources of inspiration are Kirchhoff’s theory of electrical networks and the 4-color problem, both from the 19th century. In the 20th century graph theory was one of the most rapidly growing branches of mathematics with applications to theoretical computer science (design and analysis of algorithms), operations research (combinatorial optimization) and models in engineering and economics. The internet may be thought as a graph. There are also strong ties to geometry, topology, probability theory and logic.
The main subjects in the project are graphs in the plane and on higher surfaces, graph decomposition, the Tutte polynomial and the graph flow conjectures, and also combinatorial problems arising from differential geometry. The project is centered around applying new approaches to some classical problems in graph theory, in particular problems in chromatic graph theory and flow theory. In some sense these problems have an algebraic unification in the Tutte polynomial of two variables. The Tutte polynomial has as special valuations (fixing one of the variables) the chromatic polynomial (introduced in 1912 by Birkhoff) and the flow polynomial. More recently, the Tutte polynomial has also become of interest in statistical mechanics.
Among the specific problems to be investigated is Tutte’s 3-flow conjecture from the early 1970es, the problem if the flow polynomial can have arbitrarily large roots (motivated by Tutte’s 5-flow conjecture), the Merino-Welsh conjecture on the numbers of spanning trees, acyclic orientations and totally cyclic orientations, and Wegner’s conjecture from 1977 about squares of planar cubic graphs. We expect to get significant new insight (but not complete solutions) to the two notoriously hard flow conjectures of Tutte (both of which are also described in Wikipedia). We expect to almost solve the Merino-Welsh conjecture. We expect to completely solve the Wegner conjecture.

Graph theory is a relatively new branch of mathematics. Early sources of inspiration are Kirchhoff’s theory of electrical networks and the 4-color problem, both from the 19th century. In the 20th century graph theory was one of the most rapidly growing branches of mathematics with applications to theoretical computer science (design and analysis of algorithms), operations research (combinatorial optimization) and models in engineering and economics. The internet may be thought as a graph. There are also strong ties to geometry, topology, probability theory and logic.
The main subjects in the project are graphs in the plane and on higher surfaces, graph decomposition, the Tutte polynomial and the graph flow conjectures, and also combinatorial problems arising from differential geometry. The project is centered around applying new approaches to some classical problems in graph theory, in particular problems in chromatic graph theory and flow theory. In some sense these problems have an algebraic unification in the Tutte polynomial of two variables. The Tutte polynomial has as special valuations (fixing one of the variables) the chromatic polynomial (introduced in 1912 by Birkhoff) and the flow polynomial. More recently, the Tutte polynomial has also become of interest in statistical mechanics.
Among the specific problems to be investigated is Tutte’s 3-flow conjecture from the early 1970es, the problem if the flow polynomial can have arbitrarily large roots (motivated by Tutte’s 5-flow conjecture), the Merino-Welsh conjecture on the numbers of spanning trees, acyclic orientations and totally cyclic orientations, and Wegner’s conjecture from 1977 about squares of planar cubic graphs. We expect to get significant new insight (but not complete solutions) to the two notoriously hard flow conjectures of Tutte (both of which are also described in Wikipedia). We expect to almost solve the Merino-Welsh conjecture. We expect to completely solve the Wegner conjecture.

Max ERC Funding

1 518 471 €

Duration

Start date: 2013-02-01, End date: 2018-01-31

Project acronymHBAR12

ProjectSpectroscopy of Trapped Antihydrogen

Researcher (PI)Jeffrey Scott Hangst

Host Institution (HI)AARHUS UNIVERSITET

Call DetailsAdvanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2012-ADG_20120216

SummaryAntihydrogen is the only stable, neutral antimatter system available for laboratory study. Recently, the ALPHA Collaboration at CERN has succeeded in synthesizing and trapping antihydrogen atoms, storing them for up to 1000 s, and performing the first resonant spectroscopy, using microwaves, on trapped antihydrogen. This last, historic result paves the way for precision microwave and laser spectroscopic measurements using small numbers of trapped antihydrogen atoms. Because of the breakthroughs made in our collaboration, it is now possible, for the first time, to design antimatter spectroscopic experiments that have achievable milestones of precision. These measurements require a next-generation apparatus, known as ALPHA-2, which is the subject of this proposal. The items sought are hardware components and radiation sources to help us to test CPT (charge conjugation, parity, time reversal) symmetry invariance by comparing the spectrum of antihydrogen to that of hydrogen. More generally, we will address the very fundamental question: do matter and antimatter obey the same laws of physics? The Standard Model says that they must, but mystery continues to cloud our understanding of antimatter - as evidenced by the unexplained baryon asymmetry in the universe. ALPHA's experiments offer a unique, high precision, model-independent view into the internal workings of antimatter.

Antihydrogen is the only stable, neutral antimatter system available for laboratory study. Recently, the ALPHA Collaboration at CERN has succeeded in synthesizing and trapping antihydrogen atoms, storing them for up to 1000 s, and performing the first resonant spectroscopy, using microwaves, on trapped antihydrogen. This last, historic result paves the way for precision microwave and laser spectroscopic measurements using small numbers of trapped antihydrogen atoms. Because of the breakthroughs made in our collaboration, it is now possible, for the first time, to design antimatter spectroscopic experiments that have achievable milestones of precision. These measurements require a next-generation apparatus, known as ALPHA-2, which is the subject of this proposal. The items sought are hardware components and radiation sources to help us to test CPT (charge conjugation, parity, time reversal) symmetry invariance by comparing the spectrum of antihydrogen to that of hydrogen. More generally, we will address the very fundamental question: do matter and antimatter obey the same laws of physics? The Standard Model says that they must, but mystery continues to cloud our understanding of antimatter - as evidenced by the unexplained baryon asymmetry in the universe. ALPHA's experiments offer a unique, high precision, model-independent view into the internal workings of antimatter.

Max ERC Funding

2 136 888 €

Duration

Start date: 2013-05-01, End date: 2018-12-31

Project acronymHD-Tomo

ProjectHigh-Definition Tomography

Researcher (PI)Per Christian Hansen

Host Institution (HI)DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET

Call DetailsAdvanced Grant (AdG), PE1, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209

SummaryIn computed tomography we mimic the brain’s ability to synthesize an object’s 3D structure from many projections by solving thousands of equations. Many efficient methods have been developed to do that, and the results can be impressive when the object is illuminated from many angles and the noise is negligible. However, one decisive factor behind the human brain's unrivalled success with 3D reconstruction remains to be incorporated into computed tomography: The ability to use prior information – an organized accumulation of experience with other objects in the world. The goal of the project is to accomplish this.
The time is ripe to use the power of state-of-the-art mathematics and scientific computing to develop the enabling mathematical technology for next-generation tomographic reconstruction algorithms that are flexible enough to incorporate a variety of available prior information, and thus achieve major improvements in the details and reliability of high-definition reconstructions – sharper images with reliable details. In contrast to existing approaches our goal is to make it possible to incorporate all available prior information in various forms, by replacing ad-hoc assumptions in the current tomography algorithms with prior-driven data representation models and reconstruction methods.
We will look outside the world of classical tomography and incorporate elements and techniques from related areas, tuned to the particular problems that arise in tomography. While research in tomography is often performed either in the application areas or in specialized mathematical communities, we will create a unique research environment with tight collaborations between all the necessary activities as well as scientific and industrial users of tomography. For the first time we will be able to compute reliable high-definition 3D / 4D reconstructions based on the total amount of prior information, without the reconstructions being deteriorated by algorithmic limitations.

In computed tomography we mimic the brain’s ability to synthesize an object’s 3D structure from many projections by solving thousands of equations. Many efficient methods have been developed to do that, and the results can be impressive when the object is illuminated from many angles and the noise is negligible. However, one decisive factor behind the human brain's unrivalled success with 3D reconstruction remains to be incorporated into computed tomography: The ability to use prior information – an organized accumulation of experience with other objects in the world. The goal of the project is to accomplish this.
The time is ripe to use the power of state-of-the-art mathematics and scientific computing to develop the enabling mathematical technology for next-generation tomographic reconstruction algorithms that are flexible enough to incorporate a variety of available prior information, and thus achieve major improvements in the details and reliability of high-definition reconstructions – sharper images with reliable details. In contrast to existing approaches our goal is to make it possible to incorporate all available prior information in various forms, by replacing ad-hoc assumptions in the current tomography algorithms with prior-driven data representation models and reconstruction methods.
We will look outside the world of classical tomography and incorporate elements and techniques from related areas, tuned to the particular problems that arise in tomography. While research in tomography is often performed either in the application areas or in specialized mathematical communities, we will create a unique research environment with tight collaborations between all the necessary activities as well as scientific and industrial users of tomography. For the first time we will be able to compute reliable high-definition 3D / 4D reconstructions based on the total amount of prior information, without the reconstructions being deteriorated by algorithmic limitations.

SummaryQuantum interfaces capable of transferring quantum states and generating entanglement between fields and matter are set to play a growing role in the development of science and technology. Development of such interfaces has been a crucial component in quantum information processing and communication. In the past decade quantum interfaces between atoms and optical photons have been extensively explored by a number of leading groups. Quantum state transfer between light and atoms, such as quantum memory and quantum teleportation, entanglement of massive objects, as well as measurements and sensing beyond standard quantum limits have been demonstrated by the group of the PI.
We propose to develop a robust, integrated and scalable atom-light interface and to incorporate it into a hybrid multi-facet quantum network with other relevant quantum systems, such as nano-mechanical oscillators and electronic circuits.
Towards this ambitious goal we will develop room temperature atomic quantum memories in spin protecting micro-cells (mu-cells) and opto-mechanical and electromechanical strongly coupled systems. Interfacing atoms, electronic circuits and nano-mechanical oscillators we will perform ultrasensitive quantum limited field and force measurements and quantum teleportation of states across the range of these systems.
In the fundamental sense, this research program will further broaden the horizons of quantum physics and quantum information processing by expanding it into new and unexplored macroscopic domains.

Quantum interfaces capable of transferring quantum states and generating entanglement between fields and matter are set to play a growing role in the development of science and technology. Development of such interfaces has been a crucial component in quantum information processing and communication. In the past decade quantum interfaces between atoms and optical photons have been extensively explored by a number of leading groups. Quantum state transfer between light and atoms, such as quantum memory and quantum teleportation, entanglement of massive objects, as well as measurements and sensing beyond standard quantum limits have been demonstrated by the group of the PI.
We propose to develop a robust, integrated and scalable atom-light interface and to incorporate it into a hybrid multi-facet quantum network with other relevant quantum systems, such as nano-mechanical oscillators and electronic circuits.
Towards this ambitious goal we will develop room temperature atomic quantum memories in spin protecting micro-cells (mu-cells) and opto-mechanical and electromechanical strongly coupled systems. Interfacing atoms, electronic circuits and nano-mechanical oscillators we will perform ultrasensitive quantum limited field and force measurements and quantum teleportation of states across the range of these systems.
In the fundamental sense, this research program will further broaden the horizons of quantum physics and quantum information processing by expanding it into new and unexplored macroscopic domains.